Combination lock



Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,624

D. ROBERT] COMBINATION LOCK Filed Feb. 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY.

Jan. 5 1926.

D. ROBERTI COMBINATION LOCK Filed Feb. 26,

1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 g 27 av 95 Z? INVENTOR.

m w w BY M a- A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

TED S TATES r a arena orric E...

DARIO ROBERTI, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

A plicationfiled rebruar '26, 1925. seriai'no. 11,630.

To all to From it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DixnIo ROBERTI, ia

"subjectoif the King of iltaly, residing at Springfield, in the county of I-Iampden and "State of Massachusetts, have invented-a new and i-ise ful Goinbination Loclnof whichthe following is a specification.

{My inventionrelates to improvements in combination locks designed more especially for steering posts of automobiles, and consists' generally of a box secured tothe instrument-board adj acent' to the steering-post of an automobile, a lock case receivable in said box, and -having. a hingedbaick --pla te or cover, lock mechanisms in :said :case, sald mechanisms comprising a bolt forsaid steering po'shandone or more bolts forlocking said-case to said box,retraetingmeans for said bolts, a latch 'to retain said bolts in retracted.position, =oneor more lock-rods or "-barsto secure orizlock said bolts in proije'cted position, a :supporting and shift bar vitor the lock-bars, ac'orresponding number of li'fter rods or -bars for ,saidlock bars-in cormectionwith which may be .used a dummy lifter-bar, mechanism to impart .a stepby-step :movement upwardly to;. 'said lifterb'ars, releasing means for said lifter-bars when elevated, a-a latch for :said case, 1 and .rlatch'e's for said cover, together with such other :parts and .==members. 93S may be ineces- :sary aorrdesirable in order to render the :coin'biuration lo'ck complete and serviceable in every. respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

@ne object ofn'iy-invention is to produce a rconibinatio'n lock for the steeringpost of automobile, awhichsloc'k is adapted to be unlocked :by having imparted to each of the Jitter-bar's, through the medium :of push- 'pins, which correspcnd in number with the :li-fter ba'rs, predetermined number of pulsations.whereby all .bolts are released 1 and can be m'itlicl'rawvn from zlocklng position.

Thus it is seen that only a person having the correctcombination can-release the steering post 'afrom the lock, andunlock the case trom the box which is secured to the instrument-board.

7 Another object is to afford means for Tea-dil y attachmg-thislock to theinstrumentboard-in proper .or operative position relative to the steering-post.

A further-object .is to render the lock entirely safe, as well as secure, to theen'dthat tliere is no liability of the bolt ifo'r'the --.steering-post "being released, when in 'retnacted position, :and so accidentally engag- 'ingxand lockrngesaid steering-post.

-':Sti-ll another object 1 is to afford means for obtaining access-to the interior of the case for -the5:p.u'rpose of changing the combination of the alOCk, without, however, detracting from or decreasing the-safety or security of --the lock. It is to -.th-is -end that provision is made for locking the case to and unlocking it from the box.

' A .Stlll further object is to provide the loc-ki'case with means to iretain-it in the box at s'uch times as said case is unbolted from said box.

Other objects :and advantages will appear in the course i of the 'following description.

I-attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in thetaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combi nation lock which embodies apractical-forin of my'invention, showing the same attached -to the instrument-board sand in looking engagement withthe steering-post ot-an automobile; Fig. 2, a vertical section through said instrument-board and the .box for the dock case, looking toward-the left; Fig. 3, a

similar-section but looking toward the right 4, a rear elevation of said lock case; Fig. 5, a top -.plan-'of the engaging member *for said steering-post, such member having a bifurcated instead of a cylindrical head; Fi g. 6, a .top plan of the supporting and *slll 'ft bar for the lock-bars; Fig. 7, an enlargeditopplan of one of the cover latches; :Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional detail illus- 'trating the action of the lifting mechanism; *Fig. 9, "an enlarged vertical section through :the lockcase .and its'contents, to assist :in

1 an understanding of which reference should similar parts throughout the several views. In Figs. 1 and 8 fragmentary parts of an automobile instrumerit-board, a steeringpost, a steering-post tube, and a supporting sleeve are represented at 1, 2, 3, and 41-, respectively, said steering-post having a collar 5 secured thereto. A box 6 having flanges and a plate or flat lug, which extend onto the front side of the instrumentboard 1, is let into an opening provided to receive the same in said instrument-board at the left of the steering-post 2. The aforesaid flat leg extends over the instrumentboard 1 to the right from the box (3, and designated by the numeral 7. The tube 4: pass through the lug 7, and the sleeve 1 is mounted on said lug and with the lat;- ter bolted to the instrinnent-board. In this manner and by this means the box 6 is curely fastened to the instrument-board. There is an opening 8 in the right-hand side of the box 6, to the right of said opening an. opening 10 in the instrument-board 1, and to the right of the opening 10 an opening in the tube 3. These openings are in conn nnication with each other, and a lateral opening 12 in the steering-post 2 and is so located that it is brought incollar o to communication with the other openings when said steering-post is turned to position the front wheels in some certain situation rel .iive to the back wheels of the machine, as in line therewith, or straight ahead. In the left-hand side of the box 6 are two bolt holes 13, and in the opposite side of said box are two other holes 14. A lug 15 extends inwardly from the left-hand side of the box.

The box 6 is open in front, and fitting into said box, with flanges on the front to overlap the edges of the box opening, is a lock case 16. The case 16 is open behind and provided with a plate or cover 17 to i e o iening, said. cover having its hothinged at 18-18 to the rear edge ttoni side of said. case. On the left- :ey may be projected into the holes 13 in the b x ti, and there is a latch 21 which extends'from the same side of the case to engage behind the lug 15, when the case is in the box. Projecting from the right-hand side of the case 16 are two lugs 22 which are adapted to enter the holes let in the box 6. and a sleeve 23 which is adapted to enter the openings 8, 10, and 11. when said case inserted in said box. The openings 8, 10-, and 11 are so located and of such proportions and the of the box (3 inside is such as to enable the case 16 to be placed in pii sition in and removed from said box. The lugs 19 are tapered for the purpose,

also, of facilitating the insertion and re moral of th case in and from the box.

tical movement of the case in the box. Within the sleeve 23 is a bolt- 24 that is capable of being thrust into the steering-post opening 12.

The case 16 is inserted in the box 6 while the bolts 21 and are in retracted position, the lugs 22 then entering the holes 11 and the latch 21 snapping into engage ment with the lug 15. Thus the case is held securely in the box without the aid of the bolts 20. When, however, the bolts 20 are thrustinto the holes 13, which is done at the time the bolt 2% is thrust into the hole 12 to lock the steering-post 2, the case 16 is locked in place and can not be removed from the box 6. After the bolts 20 have been withdrawn from the openings 13, which occurs at the time the bolt 2% is withdrawn from the opening 12, the case can be removed from the box simply by actuating the latch 21 out of engagement with the lug 15, through the medium of a knob 25, and pulling said case out while still retaining hold of said knob. The left-hand side of the case is withdrawn first, and the righthand side of the case is inserted first.

The knob 25 is in front of the case 16. A spindle 26 extends rearwardly from the knob 25, through the front side of the case 16 and a bracket 27 with which said case is provided, and an operating-arm 28 is secured to said spindle within the case-'see Fig. 12. The arm 28 is bifurcated and engages a portion of the latch 21 which extends into the case, and is slotted or recessed on each side, as represented at 29, to provide shoulders on both sides for the fork of said arm to engage with or bear against. A rod 30 extends inwardly from the latch 21, and is supported by another bracket 31 with which the case is provided. A spiral spring encircles the rod 30 between the inner end of the latch 21 and the inner end of the bracket 31, and normally retains said latch in projected position. Upon partially r0- tating the knob 25 in the direction to actuate the arm 28 inwardly, through the medium of the spindle 26 to which bolt said knob and arm are secured, the resiliency of the spring 32 is overcome and the latch retr cted and caused to disengage the lug 15. When the knob 25 is released the spring restores the latch to its former advanced position.

There are on the front of the case 16, in addition to the knob 25. a knob 33, a latch h .wdle 34-, the heats of live push-pins 35,

The bottom parts of the hinges in full the slot above.

a releasingor drop-har36, -a'-nd an operating lever0r-handle 37 for said'tlrop ba r.

The knob 33 is *secured'to the frontend of a spindle 38 thatis'jouirnaled in their-Ont side oft'he case 16 and a lug 39 behind, and securedto 'the inner end of said spindle is'a downwardly 'extendirrg operatingarm t0 see Fig. 12. The-knob 33 is betweenthe vertical planes of the knob and the handle 34.

The handle '3t'is rigidly attac'hedto a lug '41 that extends forwardly ;1ro'ma vertical latch 42 above the lug 1'5 is a lug 47,-and a rod 48 "extends upwardly from said firstnamed lug through the opening "in the lug 44 above. A spiralspring "49 encircles'the Tod i8'betwe'en' the lugs 47 and 1d, and tends constantly to force the latch -12 downwardly as far as the 111g '45 perinits. All -o'f'these parts andmembers are shown in Figs. 11 and 12. When the'lu'g 47 is ont'he'lug 45,

the lug 41 is at the bottom oftheslot 46,

and the'base of the latch '42 extendshelow said lug 45. "By 'movingthedrandle 34 upwardly, against theresiliencyoit the spring '49, the latch 42' is elevated andthe lower end thereof carried up into the openin'gin the he-arm .40 and t-helatch'42at'thei'rlower ends are inoperative position relative to a shank"50 from the right hand end of which the bolt 24 extends, said "shank being hereinafter described in detail.

'On the hack side'of the cover 17 nearthe top are two horizontal slides 51, a resilient operating arm 52, and a stop'p-in 53fo'r said arm.

The slides 51 are provided attheir inner ends with torwardly extending dips, and there are two longitudinal slots 55 in said slides adjacent to said lips. Behind each slide "51, adjacent to the outer terminal thereof, is aslot- 56 in the cover 17 ,one of said slides beinghrolzen ofi'in Fig. 4 to show Two horizontal latch bolts '57 are arranged in'keepe'rs'58 58"behind the slots 56, as'shown in F-igl12. Two

screws '59 pass through the 'slots 55 'tobe tapped into'the covers 17, and twoscrews 60 pass through the slides 51 and t-he slots 56 to he tapped into the latchbolts57. Thus the slides51 are "supported'and longitudinal movement is permitted both to the "slides and the bolts. The ke'epers 58 are fastened to the cover 17 on the inside, and springs 61 61 are provided normally to '-1-'etain the bolts '57 "in advanced :lposition. Re cesses 62- 62 are niade in opposite sides of the 7 case 16 to receive the terminals of the holts 57 'which' protrude from the -keepers-58 at their outer: ends. Each spring 61 is wound around a pin 63-set in the cover 17 ,and one terminal of said spring bears against the inner end of the-adjacent bolt-'57, while the other terminal of said spring bears against the top of'ia 1ug64 with which said cover is provid'ed'below said .pin. Each bolt 57 has at the inner end a downwardly extendin g projection "65 which strikes the inner end of' th'e keeper-5415M said bolt, 'vrhcnthe latter is released to 'itssp'ringfii, and thus 'l imitsthe outwardmovement of the bolt.

Upon closing the cover 17 the bolts 57 snap'f-into the recesses 62 and thuslook said cover to' the case 16. 'l o releaseor unlock the cover '17 from theease -1 6,-sin1ply press toward each other-the lips Mend-the slides 51, and thus withdraw the-bolts I 57,whieh are connected-with sai'dslides'by means of "the screws 60, frem the recesses 62, the

holts then being actuatediinwardly against "theresiliency of the springs 61 Ulponreleasing the lips 5 1 "the springs 6.1 immediately '?actuate the bolts 57 "0111) a'rdly and intoposition tosnap 'into'the recesses 62 when next the cover is closed.

it should be remembered that, since the cover 17 is open: in Fig. .12, the-top ot'said cover is atthehottom of that view.

At the top of the-cover 17 onc'the inside is c'over' blow the same ikeeperis'a spindle toth'e outer end of which is secured the arm "52,a'ndtothe inner end of which is secured "an actuating lever 71. 'These parts and members are adjacent to the side of the cover and (case where are locatedtheholts 20 and the latch 21. The stop 'pin 53 is in the path of the 211'1'11 52, the l'ever '71 has a head'hymeans of which said lever is dire'ctly mounted on and secured to :the' spindle 70, and the "stop "69 is in "the path of a shouldered part of said head, as clearly shown in Fig. 12.

When the resilient arm '52 is positioned below -''the pin '53, min Fig. 1, the head of the lever 71'is in contact withthe stop '69,

and said lever is approximately parallel with the adjacent side of the cover 17 and whensaida'i'niis movedto locate it"on the 'other side of-said pin, said :head is rocked upwardly away from said stop, and. said l'ever is "carried inwardly the'bottoin.

A -l1orizoh'tal supporting and shift bar .72

is held in place against the trout faces oi the lugs (i l: by means of two pins or screws 73 which pass through oblique slots T l in said bar. The terminal of the bar '72 that adjacent to the lever 71 is bent rearwardly, as represented at 7 5 in Figs. 6 and 7, and such rearwardly-ciztending part is re tained in contact with the lever 71 by means of a spiral spring 7 The spring 76 encircles a rod 77 which has one end pivotally connected T8 with the lug that is ad'- jacent to the part 75, and the other end passed through said part, and said spring bears between said lug and said part. The bar F2 is permitted to be moved on the screw 73, and such movement is oblique because of the oblique slots i i through which said screws pass. Normally the bar 72 is supported on the screws 73 by the tops of the slots 7%, the force of the spring 76 being then absorbed by the lever 71 and the stop 69. At this time the resilient arm 52 is below the stop pin 53. When, however, the arm 52 is moved to the other side of the pin 53, the spindle rocked and the lever 51 rocked with it in the direction to force the bar 7 2 toward the side of the cover and case where are located the bolt 2%, and at the same time said bar is caused to as cend until the bottoms of the slots 74 are in contact with the screws 73. The return of the arm 52 to the under side of the pin 53 permits the spring 76 to actuate the bar 72 in the opposite direction and downwardly as far as the tops of the slots Tl. and the stop 69 and intervening parts and members permit.

The cover 17 on the inside is provided with two narrow outside ribs 79 and four wide intermediate ribs 80 which extend from the flange 66 downwardly nearly to the bottom of said cover. These ribs are spaced from each other, the ribs 79 are undercut beneath their inner longitudinal edges, and the ribs 99 are undercut beneath both longitudinal edges. whereby are formed live, vertical, 'l sl'laped ways or grooves. The lugs G l: are secured directly to the ribs 79. Arranged to slide in the T-shaped grooves provided by the ribs 7 9 and 80 are lock-bars 81. There may be one of the lockbars 81 in each groove, but in the present example there are no lock-bars in two of the grooves. Each of the lock-bars is T-shaped in cross section, and normally it is positioned behind the 1r '72, and supported by said bar through the medium of a pin 82 which projects for vardly from the lockbar near the upper end thereof. A spiral spring 83 is interposed between the flange 66 and each lock-bar 81 to assist gravity in forcing the same downwardly. The pins 82 are in position to center the springs 83 at the top. The lower terminals of the springs 83 are let into the lock-bars 81 attheir upper ends. In this case the lock-bars 81 are in the two outermost grooves and the groove which is nearest adjacent to one of said outermost grooves.

Lifter-bars 8%, 85, and 86 are slidingly arranged in the grooves in which are located the lock-bars 81, and below the latter. These litter-bars are o'l different lengths, each is out back at the upper terminal to i orm a thin projection 87, and all have ratchet-teeth 88 on their front sides. The ratchet-teeth 88 extend upwardly from the bottom of each litter-bar for a considerable portion of the length thereof. Each of these litter-bars is T-shaped and similar in size, in cross section, like and to the loci:- hars 81. In the front sides of the litt bars 84%, 85, and 86, above the ratchet-teeth 88, are three punch marks, one punch mark, and four punch marks, respectively. A dummy lifter-bar 89 is also provided and the same is located in one of the grooves in which there is no lock-bar. The lifter-bar S9 is generally similar to the other litterbars except that it has no projection 87. The dummy litter-bar is marked with an 0;. Normally all of the litter-bars rest on the bottom of the case 16, and their lengths are such that then they are out of contact with the lock-bars 87. The lockbars are of such length that they now extend some distance below the bar 72. A notch 90 is out in the bar 7 2 from below to accommodate the lug 47 of the latch 42.

There may be more or less than four ribs 80, lock-bars and litter-bars may be provided for all or a less number of the grooves formed by said ribs and the ribs 7 9, and, it some of the lock-bars are omitted, one or more dummy lifterbars may be employed.

The shank 50 ot the bolt 24 is supported against the inner face of the front side of the case 16 by means of a guide-bar 91 and two screws The guide-bar 91 is T- shaped in cross section, and there is a longitudinal slot 9;) in the shank 50 to receive the narrow part of said guide-bar, said suit being long enough to enable the shank 50 to move longitudinally to the extent returned. The screws 92 pass through the guide-bar 91 to be tapped into the front side of the case 16. At the bolt end of the shank 50, on the back side, is a lug 9a, and at the opposite end of said shank. also on the back side, are two nose-pieces 95, one above the other. A. spring 96 has one end secured to a post 97 set in the front side of the case 16 and extending inwardly, said spring is given several turns around said post, and the free end of said spr'big bears against the inner side of the lug 94. Thus the spring 96 tends constantly to urge the shank 50 in the direction to project the bolt 24. The shank 50 has a rearwardly-projecting flange. 98 at the top, and in this flange are slots 99 and 100,

and notches 101, the-latter beingin the back edge, oiif saith flange, and? cci'responcling in.

number. with the number otlockandJitteia bar grooves 'lihe,lowerternnnal of the arm id-extendsihto the slot 99,, and the bolt 2 1- otithe;springim; 'Ehe slot 100 is in position to receive, tlie bOttQ endjot the latch 12 at this timeand 'saidlat'cl then holds the parts in; retracted P OStiOlLQ as shown in Fig, 12 5 up-sliapedibrackets 102-102 are attached andbelow. the, nose-pieces 95, two levers 103 L l1,. ,otally connected; intermediate oftlieir ends, with said brackets, a-t roe-104. Adjacentv erminalsof the levers 108 are in the paths oi the nose-piecesfia The other, terminalsofthe lfeve1;s}103 arebiturcated"to enge portions ot heb01t 20 which ten into, the case 16. and are slotted" or recessed on opposite sides, as represented at 105', Fig, 12,,t-o provide shoulders on both sides to, be engaged} by the to 'ksof said levers. Rods; 106-1-106 extend inwardly from the bolts 20, and are supported: by brackets 197 T1 attached to the case above and below the brackets 102 Spiral springs 108 10,8 encircle the rods 106. between the inner endsi oi" the bolts and. the inner ends of the bracl'rets 107, and tend constant-lytot'orce the bolts QQcutwardly.

Qbvionsly, the bolts Q0. are nniitaneously with the bolt 24', because, n, the shank -is actuated to draw said t it 2gtginwardly, the nose-pieces 95 of said tt11l1fick the levers 103; on their pivots 17 in theQdiifections; to force said bolts 20 dly against the; resiliency of the 1118. I i v .nthe withdraw-a1 ot the latch 42 from oincnt with the shank 50, the latter editothe spri-ng96 which immediately ajctuates said shank in the direction to ad vance the bolt 2 1 and to release the bolts 20 'to;tlie action of thcisprings 108, whereby said bolts 20 are advanced, Thelast-mentioned action is brought about by the inward moveinent, of the nose-pieces. 95,-andthe resulting movement on; the-part of the levers 103. under; the influence of the springs 108'.

The notches 101;, in the bolt-shank flange 98, equal in number the full quota of; lockbars 81, and said notches are so located that,when.the shank 50 is; in what may be termed retracted position, said notches; are directly opposite the spaces between said lock-bars, and, when saidshank is in what may be termed; advanced; position, said notches arefinp'osition to receive said lockbarsand the lifter-bars. It follows, theretorethat, whenany lock or lifter-bar is in my-comb. 10.1, the'shank h eby Pr tin Fig. sufiicient' force. be ng, used to overcome the resistance:

to'ti-ic left-hand sideot the case 16, above:

retracted sivented: from being actuated into retracted position, but" that upon so arranging said lock and litter-bars; that there is a clear passage for the flange 98 below the lower. ends or; the loclr'Jia-rs' and", above the upper ends ofthe'lii'ter-bars; said shank'can be actuatedjfrom advanced to retractedposition.

iVhen thecover-I'T'is closed, 'the ban72 passes above the shank 50," and the back edge of the flange 98, atpoints between the notches 101', encounter the lock-bars 81 unless they be elevated a sutficient distanceto prevent contact therewith by said flange, assuming," of course, that said shankis in retracted position. Such contact as has justgbc-cn mentioned-is avoided, however,- byoperatingthe; resilient arm-52in the rnannerfto raise the bar 72 a'1id elevate the lockbars 81. As soon asthe cover: 17 is closed, the arm;52*is returned to ijts'former' position, and the bar 72 is permittedtomove downward ly again and'the lock-bars to descend un'til jthey rest onthe-flange 98 between the notches "101, there to, remain until the shank 50f-1novesintoadvanced position, when saidloclr-bars-dropas far as the pins 82'pe1' init, with the lower terminals of said 160];- b'ars lIL'Sttid' notches Meanwhile the litterbars areresting on the bottom of the case 16.

In;,ord er to unlock the. shank 50 so as to cnablef tlie knob 33 to be actuated to cause said shank to beinoved' into retracted position, it is necessary to remove all of the lock-,bars. 81 from the notchesl-Ol, through the medium oi? the lifter-bars 84, 85, and 86, without thrusting any of said lifter-bars into any of said notches, or' thrusting the dummy lifter-bar'89f into thenotch which is above the same. The;rnechanism for doing this work will next bejexplained'.

as best shown'in Figfi8, each push-pin '35 is loosely received in a slot 109* in the front side of the case 16,'it is rigidly secured inside'of said case to a spring 110 which normally retains said push-pin inthe outwardly or fully projected position, andf-a pawl 111' has its lower terminal pivotally connected at 112 with the push-pin. The upper terminal" of thespring 110 is fastened to, the frontsideof'the'case 16 behind, and

thepush-pin35 is-.- attached to the lower terminalo-f' said'springi The positionsof the pushrpin and itspa-wl 111 are such that the latter engagesthe ratchet tecth 88-011 the associated orgadjacent lifter-bar (84:, 85, 86, or 89), and'a spiral-spring 113 is arranged between the upper terminalof: said awl and"the s pring 11'0 to retain the pawlin en- 'gag'einr n t with the litter-bar behind, the

pawland spring 1 1 0 being-respectively provicled withfcent'ering pinsjll4 and 115 for saidspring 113'; Each time, therefore, that anypu sh-pin' ai is'forced inwardly, against the resiliency of -its spring 110, the pawl 111 connected with saidpus 2 whe pwardly the lifter-bar with which said pawl is in engagement, the arrangement and proportion of the parts being such that the amount of upward movement thus imparted to the lifter-bar is approximately equal to the distance between two of the teeth 88. After the push-pin is thrust inwardly the pressure thereon is removed to permit the spring 110 to which said push-pin is at tached to act and carry the push-pin outwardly again.

The drop-bar 36 has at the ends two rigidly attached arms 116 which extend rearwardly from said drop-bar through slots in the front side of the case 16, wherein said arms are pivoted at 117--117 to two lugs 118 secured to said front side behind, as illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, and 12. One of the slots for the arms 116 is indicated by dotted lines 119 in Figs. 9 and 10. From the pivots 117 the arms 116 project upwardly, and a horizontal rod 120 extends between such projection and to which said rod is aflixed. A spring 121 has its bottom edge portion clamped between the inner face of the front side of the case 16 and a bar 122, screws 123 being employed to fasten said bar and said spring to said front side. The spring 121 extends rearwardly over the top of the bar 122, then upwardly in front of the rod 120, and finally upwardly and rearwardly, and said spring above said bar has openings cut therein and is cut transversely to form detents 12 1, there being as many of such detents as there are lifter-bars in their full quota, or five in this case. Normally the detents 12 1 are in engagement above the slots 111 with the lifter-bar ratchet-teeth 88, and each lifter-bar is held by its detent, after being elevated the distance between two of the ratchet-teeth by the engaging pawl, while the latter is operated to engage the next ratchet-tooth below. lVhen any lifterbar is elevated, its ratchet-teeth snap past the engaging detent. It is now clear that the lifter-bars are elevated by a step-by-step movement.

A. link 125 has its rear end pivotally connected at 126 with a lug 127 on the front of the case 16, passes through a slot 128 in the drop-bar 36, and has the handle 37 pivoted at 129 to the forward end thereof. The pivoted terminal of the handle 37 is bifurcated to receive the front end of the' link 125, and the free ends of the bifurcated portion are adapted to bear on opposite sides of the slot 128 when said handle is swung upwardly, and to exert a cam action on the drop-bar. Normally the handle 37 hangs down, and the spring 121 causes the detents 124. to bear against the lifter-bar ratchetteeth 88, and the drop-bar 36 to be in raised position with its transverse dimension approximately parallel with the front of the case. When, however, the handle 37 is swung downwardly on the pivot 129, the bifurcated terminal of said handle contacts with the drop-bar 36 and forces the same downwardly and into an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 10, with the result that the arms 116 carry the rod 120 forwardly, and the latter forces the detents 124 out of engagement with the lifter-bars and the lifterbars immediately drop by gravity onto the bottom of the case. handle 37 down into its former position, the drop-bar 36 is released to the action of the detent spring, and said spring actuates the arms 116 in such a manner that said dropbar is carried upwardly, and the rod 120 is carried rearwardly, with the result that the detents 12a reengage the lifter-bar ratchetteeth.

Assuming that the case 16 is in place in the box 6, the locking and unlocking operations are described as follows:

The handle 34 is raised to withdraw the latch 42 from the slot 100, when the spring 96 acts on the shank to shoot the bolts 24 and 20. Now the steering-post 2 can not be turned on its axis, and the case 16 can not be removed from the box 6, until the combination is worked. The combination is worked by imparting, through the medium of the push-pins 35 and pawls 111, three pulsations to'the lifter-bar 84, one pulsation to the lifter-bar 85, and four pulsations to the lifter-bar 86. These pulsations cause the three lifter-bars just mentioned to be raised into contact with the lock-bars 81, and to raise the latter far enough to clear the flange 98, without thrusting any lifter-bar into any notch 101. Due to the presence of the projections 87 at the upper ends of the active lifter-bars, whereby the latter are enabled to contact with the lock-bars 81 while at the same time leaving open spaces in front between the upper and under members, there is now an unobstructed passage for the shank 50 between the lock-bars and said lifter-bars. If any active lifter-bar be raised too far it enters the notch 101. above and prevents the bolt shank from being moved, and if any active lifter-bar be not raised far enough the lock-bar above does not clear the notch 101 into which it extends; and if the dummy lifter-bar be raised even one point it enters the notch 101 with which the same is in line and blocks the movement of said shank.

When the combination is set, the knob is turned to withdraw the bolts and thus unlock both the steeringpost 2 and the case 16.

If it be desired to change the combination, the case 16 is unlatched and removed from the box 6, while the bolts are in retracted position, the cover 17 is opened, the lifter-bars are rearranged, or new ones of different lengths from the others are in- Upon swinging the lessees serted, the bar 72 isoperated to take the lock-bars 81' out of the way of the shank flange 98, sa1d cover is closed,,and' said bar 72 is again shifted to permit said lock-barsto descend onto-said flange, and then, when the bolts are shot the nez-it time, said lockbars will drop into the notches 101.

Each timethe bolts are shot into place, or before attempting to set the combination, the handle 37 is swung up and down for the purpose of distributing the combination and restoring the normal relationship between the detents 12.4: and the lifter-bar ratchet-teeth. v

As. illustrated in- Fig. 5, a forked bolt or boltsheadlSO may be substituted for the cylindrical. bolt 2 t, .lILWlllGll event the steering-post, 200, is slabbed. off onopposite sidesto enable the same to be engaged and held by said bolt-head. Otherwise there is no change-in the parts and members of the lock.

If desired, the detent spring may be augmented, for; the purpose of increasing the force. with whichQthe. drop-bar 36 is normally retained in. its raised position, by providing, spring 15311at each end of the operating mechanisinfor the detents; Each spring 131 is wound around one of the pivots 117, and arranged with one terminal bearing against the front sideof: the case 16, and the other terminal bearing in against the front of the adjacent,protruding terminal: of the rod 120-, whichrod' extends bey'ond. both arms 116.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this look, in addition to. those hereinbefore specifically. pointed out, may he made without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a box, of a lock case provided with steering-postand box-engaging bolts, and with a boX-engaging latch, said case being receivable in said box, means to lock and release said bolts, and means to with draw said box-engaging bolts from locking engagement from said box, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that, when the boX-cngagii'ig bolts are withdrawn, said latch normally retains said case in place in said box.

2. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a box open in front, of a lock case receivable in said box, having an inner side that opens, and provided with steering-postand box-engaging means, and means to lockand release said bolts.

3. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a box open in front, of lock case having one side open, and a cover for said open side, said case beingreceix 'able in said box and p:ovided with steering-postand box-engaging bolts, means to secure said case to said bozr in the side opposite to said box-engaging bolts, which means-is entirely disconnected when said belts are retracted and the case is taken from the box, and means .to project and retract said bolts.

4. The combination, in a lock OftllC class described, with a box open in front, of a 7 lock receivable in said box and when thereinbeing held against movement up or down or sideways by the top, bottom, and sides of'sid box, and'provided with steering-postandbox-engaging bolts, and with releasable means other than the box-engaging l 6. The combination, iii a lock of the class described, witha box open in front, ofalock case receivable in said. box, and provided with. bolts to engage astecring-postjid-said bo l, springs arranged to advance a shank for said steering-p0st-engag ng bolt, means to actuate said shank into retracted position, means to hold said shank in such position, means to lock and release said shank when in advanced position, and a lever connected with said box-engaging bolt and extending into the path of said shank, whereby when said shank and steering-postengaging bolt are retracted said boX-engag ing bolt is retracted, and when the former are advanced the latter is advanced.

7 The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a lock case, and a springpresse'd bolt shank in said case, said shank having a perforated and notched flange, of rotatable means journaled in the front. of said case and consisting in part'of an arm which has one end in one of the perforations in said flange, a spring-pressed latch mounted in and having a handle on the outside of said case, said latch being adapted to enter the other perforation in saidflange when said shank is retracted, and locking and releasing permutation elements in said, case for said shank, said elements being adapted to enter the notches in said flange.

' 8. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a lock case provided at the back with a cover, of bolt mechanism and permutation locking and releasing mechanism therefor in said case, said last-named mechanism consisting in part of lockand lifter-bars carried by said cover.

9. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a lock case provided at the back with a cover, latches arranged to retain said cover in closed position, and operating means for said latches, of bolt mechanism and permutation locking and releasing mechanism therefor in said case, said last named mechanism consisting in part of lockand lifter-bars, carried by said cover.

10. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a lock case provided at the back with a cover, of a notched bolt shank, operating means for said shank, lugs on said cover, a spring-pressed bar having oblique slots therein, screws passing through said slots into said lugs, lock-bars supported by said first-named bar, a spindle journaled in said cover, a lever secured to the inner terminal of said spindle and in contact with said first-named bar, and an arm secured to the outer terminal of said spindle, the con struction and arrangement of parts being such that, when said arm is moved in one direction, said first-named bar is shifted to move said lock-bars out of the way of said shank, and, when said arm is moved in the other direction, said first-named bar is shifted to permit said lock-bars to assume their former positions.

11. The combination, in a lock of the class described, with a lock case provided at the back with a cover, of a notched bolt shank, operating means for said shank, lugs on said cover, a spring-pressed bar having oblique slots therein, screws passing through said slots into said lugs, lock-bars supported by said first-named bar, a spindle journaled in said cover, a lever secured to the inner terminal of said spindle and in contact with said first-named bar, a resilient arm secured to the outer terminal of said spindle, and a stop for said arm, the construction and arrangement of parts being such that, when said arm is moved from one side to the other of said stop, said first-named bar is shifted to move said lock-bars out of the way of said shank, and, when said arm is moved back, said first-named bar is shifted to permit said lock-bars to assume their former positions.

In a lock of the class described, a lock case, a plurality of serrated lifter-bars, means to elevate said lifter-bars individually, and a single spring fastened to said case, and out to form a plurality of detents each engaging one of said lifter-bars.

13. In a lock of the class described, a lock case, a plurality of serrated lifter-bars, means to elevate said lifter-bars individually, said means including resilient detents, a drop-bar having arms'which are pivotally connected with said case, and are provided with a rod located behind said detents, a link pivotally connected with the front of said case, and extending through said drop-bar and a handle pivotally connected with said link, and adapted, when swung in one direction on its pivot, to exert a cam action on said drop-bar and thereby operate the same to cause said detents to be drawn. away from said lifter-bars.

DARIO ROBERTI. 

